From planning the annual holiday party, to figuring out the venue for the company picnic, orchestrating the most memorable retirement party, creating the company party, or sprucing up a standard sales meeting, local Portland, Oregon area businesses have a great resource at their fingertips when they are in need of employee appreciation events, activities, teambuilding programs, retirement parties, or other celebrations.

The basic goal of any employee appreciation event is to simply thank the people who keep your business rolling. Our company offers local employers many options when it comes to deciding the right way for an organization to show its gratitude to its workforce.
Offering options for all sizes of groups, our full service event planning staff is here to help.
Employee Appreciation Event Planning – Things to think about…

1) Decide who to invite.
This may seem pretty obvious to some employers, but to others it becomes a valid concern. Sometimes due to budget, seasonal staff, part time staff, or other various factors a company must be selective when it comes to deciding on whom to invite.
What is the right decision? It depends on the specific organization and circumstances. An organization is usually better off inviting families and spouses, as it brings in a more personal feeling to the group. However, some employers find it effective to keep employee appreciation events focused entirely around the employee. For help with your specific group, call one of our event planners – we will be more than happy to assist you with your decision.
Here are some questions to ask yourself:

Are you inviting employees only?
Benefit: Intimate Event, personalized appreciation.
Fallback: Some Employees would rather be with their families than at work.

Are you inviting employees and their spouse (or 1 guest)?
Benefit: Spouses get to see and appreciate their partner’s career.
Fallback: Employees with children may not attend due to babysitter issues.

Are you inviting employees and their families?
Benefit: Creates a family friendly workplace, and employees get to know each other on a personal level.
Fallback: Further Limits the dates/times which the event can take place.

Making the decision who you are inviting will make an impact on the budget required, the size of space, length of event, date and time, amount of guests, etc…

2) Pick an Event Location

Where you are holding the event will determine the attendance. Requiring people to drive 4hrs out of their way (or even 2 minutes these days) can deter them from attending an event. Finding the correct event location will help to determine a lot of other things.

When deciding on an event location think of the time of year you are holding your event. It would be crazy in most cases to hold a December Holiday Party on the beach… Unless you live in Hawaii or are planning a destination event to the Caribbean…

The point is, try to think of your climate and weather patterns when you are deciding if you are going to hold the event indoors or outdoors. If there is a specific activity, performance, or other variable that is to be included in the event- you will have to plan a location to accommodate this.

So when deciding the location consider the following:
Travel Time
Activities Planned
Climate/Date
Size of Group

3) The Date

Is the location you chose even available on the date you want? Sometimes more popular venues will be sold out well in advance, and often people adjust their dates just to make the date work out.

If you are planning an event for families- think in terms of Spouse schedules (they may work too), and think also in terms of kids school schedules… (This is why many company picnics happen on weekends during the summer.)

4) What to Eat, What to Eat?

I like food, food tastes good… But when you are planning for a group of people- you must take into consideration the eating habits and preferences of all of them . If you have one vegetarian, then the steak dinner may not work well… Selecting a venue or a menu which covers the basics is the best way to go about it.

Larger organizations may need to take into consideration things like Kosher or Halal menu requirements. Ultimately you want to make sure every guest has something to eat.

5) What to do, What to do…

So yes, you are all going to get together and eat- but what else will you do to make the event entertaining, exciting, or memorable? What activities are the best for your group?

Some companies or groups have long standing traditions like the volleyball match, softball game, or event the dunk tank. Other companies are constantly seeking new ideas which will work for the entire group.

Often these days people get a variety of entertainment options in order to ensure that there is something that interests everyone in the group.

Like any event you may find yourself planning, an employee appreciation event takes time, effort, and careful thought in order to make it a success. The decisions you make will ultimately impact the results your company achieves from the event. While it is hard to please everyone, it is important to make an effort to include every single person.
Joe from accounting may find that the most important thing about the event was the way his child keeps bringing up how much fun the bounce house was. Terri the receptionist may appreciate the fact that your vegetarian burgers tasted great. Jennifer, the part time office assistant may have always wanted to go to a picnic period. Finally the drivers may most appreciate the fact that they got to hang out with their buddies and their families, and had a great time on the bungee run!

We rent Photo Booths for parties, trade shows, and special events!

Photo Booth Rentals are available for all types of events- we have seen them to be very popular at:
Company Parties, Trade Shows, Weddings, School Carnivals, Grad Parties, and MORE!

If you are considering a photo booth rental for your next event then we can help. We are proud to offer several instant photography options for special events! Our professional event planners will be glad to work out all the delivery/set up/location details- call us today!

PHOTO EXPERIENCE
We also offer a full instant photo station which prints 5×7 framed photos. We have used this station for all kinds of photo services, customized for specific events:

For example:

Pictures with Santa - Pictures with Mrs. Claus - Pictures with the Easter Bunny - Pictures with the Grinch - Rock Star Dress Up - OR even Pictures on a Harley Davidson with Bikini Girls! The sky is the limit when it comes to using our photo station- it just takes a little imagination to create the background which you like!

Professional Grinch Impersonations are an absolutely hilarious solution to any party or gathering which you may be planning. Most popular during the Holiday Event season, our Grinch Impersonators are full on Funny!

There is nothing like having a fuzzy green guest who doesn’t really want to be at your party on the guest list. Your party will be the talk of the town when people interact with him, and he tells them of his goals this Christmas.

Our Grinch impersonators can play an unhappy Grinch, or they can play a nice “Reformed Grinch” who is currently attending a 12 step program to better himself and make himself a more “like able” guy.

For a rousing performance to meet and greet your guests as they arrive, show up “late”, or even as a person who hands out gifts to your coworkers- a Grinch impersonator is the ideal performer to have at your event!

While the rainy season is not in full swing yet, we are definitely starting to see glimpses of the coming months! Here are some great ideas for holding indoor events in the Portland area.

Party Idea #1 - Party Facility -
Our friends at Inflatable Kingdom have the Portland area’s best option when it comes to holding a party indoors during the Rainy Season. The party center boasts a huge play arena filled with inflatable rides and games for kids birthday parties! But that is not all- it is also the ideal location to host your upcoming corporate event, fundraiser, or any type of event. The inflatables roll up- and the facility can be transformed into any theme to fit your needs! They have hosted weddings, casino nights, western themed events, and even school dances at their Portland party place.

Party Idea #2 - School Gyms -
Educational institutions are excellent venues to hold gatherings. In their primary design these types of places were made to accommodate large groups of people.

Finding a public or private school which offers rentals of their facility is a great way to find the ideal rainy season event venue. Check out everything from elementary schools to middle schools, high schools, and even colleges!

Party Idea #3 - Community Centers -
Community Centers almost always have rooms for rent and there are all kinds of community centers in the Portland area which you can find!

Party Idea #4 - Home Parties -
For years, we have been hosting parties and events at peoples homes. Rainy season or not- we often get the call when someone is planning a party. We provide all kinds of services for home party rentals- which can go indoors or out!

Performers - Clowns, Magicians, Face Painters, and all kinds of other performers are available from us for your next special event!

Rent a Tent - Cover your head, and create more space for the group by renting a tent. There are all kinds of options such as side walls (to protect from wind), heaters, sky lights, and more to make the tent a comfortable room for your guests to enjoy your hospitality!

Inflatables - You can get them brought out- we even have a couple units that fit inside your garage! Last minute winter rentals are a great way to get an excellent value on your inflatable rental.

There are all kinds of great ways which we can help you to plan your upcoming event. And all kinds of event rental options are available from our rental department.

For more party ideas about your upcoming event please browse the site some more!

Can we pick up anything for you?

Every year we spend the month of November evaluating our current inventory, and deciding what items need replacing, refurbished, etc… we also take this time to consider what items are currently lacking from our inventory.

We would love feedback from our clients (ie… you!) regarding services and rental items which you would prefer to get through us!

Maybe there is something you saw at an event somewhere, or in a catalog, online, or elsewhere. Maybe you are currently acquiring this item through another vendor and would prefer to get it through us! Whatever the case, we are interested in your feedback!

Please take some time to consider, and if anything pops into your head- email us

We appreciate your time, and look forward to working with you again soon!

The company holiday party is a great chance to share with your colleagues and celebrate the past year. This year it seems that many companies are beginning to cut back on the holiday event budget due to the current state of the US economy. Many employers are holding back on releasing budget details for their holiday parties until they see the stock market start to stabilize, and until they see what happens in America after the recent bailout plan. The results of the upcoming election are also going to be used by some company executives to determine the future of the company holiday party.

For those loyal staff members and employers who love the holidays- this does not have to be the end of the holiday party! There are plenty of low budget ways for event planners to put together a holiday party which will lessen it’s blow on the companies pocket book.

Examining the Holiday Party Budget
The best way to make budget cuts is by looking at the budget. So if you can, find out as much as you can about last years and preceding years company parties to determine what the budget has been in the past. At this time look and see if there are ways you could cut back on expenses.

Here are some examples of places to cut holiday party budgets:

Food - Catering: In years past, maybe you have had a nice fancy sit down catered meal for all your company members. If this is the case you have a great place to free up some budget. simply taking your holiday event and changing it into a less formal event will save a fortune. A “cocktail party” type of atmosphere is usually very successful and offers a casual elegance which is popular among crowds.

The Bar: If you have had a bar in the past, and typically just picked up the tab, a very simple change can save you big bucks. Moving to a “drink ticket” system can save you a fortune. Decide how many drinks you will offer each guest, and when they have consumed that number- they can always move to a no host bar.

Time of Day: Holding you event in the morning can free up a large amount of budget, offering you great savings on food and beverage. A simple pastries and coffee service can be used and you can incorporate all kinds of fun games, entertainers, and activities for the crowd to make the atmosphere more festive.

Also- this guide of holiday party games and holiday party ideas is a great place to look for new alternatives to past company parties!

The school carnival is coming up and you need some great ideas to keep those kids busy, parents happy, and the budget flowing for your school carnival event.

If you have not yet incorporated the use of inflatable games or a professional carnival company into your school carnival event… then you have a great opportunity to turn your event into the best event your school has ever hosted!

School Carnival Ideas

Game Ideas for School Carnival Planners
We have all kinds of great games and game ideas for school carnivals. Our games were professionally developed for carnivals and are ruggedly made to withstand heavy usage.

Ring toss - the classic toss rings and try to make a ringer. It is the perfect addition to any school carnival event you may be planning.

Fishing Game - Kids love not knowing what they will catch. And the classic fishing game is a perfect addition to any carnival.

Bowling Game - This is a very simple addition to any carnival event. And you can hand out carnival prizes or trinkets to all participants regardless how they do!

Dunk Tank - Dunk tank rentals are the perfect activity- especially if you can get a fun teacher, principal, or other school official to sit on the seat and get wet!

Inflatable Slide - Kids love the inflatable slide, and the slide will also bring a visual impact to your event which can not be matched anywhere. The height alone will excite your carnival guests!

There are all kinds of School carnival ideas and games available on our website- just browse through the pages, and see if there is something that interests you. We also have a full selection of carnival prizes available so we can truly be your one stop carnival shop!

Are you looking for new picnic food ideas for your summer outing? Picnic foods need to be tasty, portable, and resistant to spoiling, and finding recipes that meet these requirements is challenging.

Finger foods are always a good choice for your picnic menu, but may not provide enough variety for more mature tastes. To keep you picnic food ideas fresh and healthy, try out a few of these picnic food ideas for your next summer outing.

Picnic Food Ideas

*Try packing fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole chesses for a fresher picnic menu. You can tuck a small cutting board and a sharp knife to prepare your foods on the spot.

*Avoid packing any picnic foods that contain mayonnaise, eggs, or dairy products to avoid the risk of food poisoning. Meats and fish should also be used with caution. If you include meat on your picnic menu, be sure to keep it cool and out of the sun.

*Instead of coleslaw, try shredded broccoli with carrots and a light salad dressing.

*Mixed nuts make great alternative picnic finger foods.

*Salsa and tortilla chips are safer, and healthier, than dairy-based dips.

*A few alternatives to the traditional sliced bread sandwich are wraps, bread pouches, croissants, bagels, and crackers. You can stuff these sliced bread alternatives with your favorite veggies or sandwich ingredients.

*Summer fruits and vegetables are great picnic items. Zucchini, squash, tomatoes, watermelon, strawberries, peaches, pears, and grapes are perfect for picnic totes.

*For a lighter picnic menu, replace that traditional fried chicken with cold chicken strips tossed in Italian dressing or your favorite barbeque sauce. You can serve the chicken on bread, pita wraps, or over cold pasta.

*Picnic beverages should be refreshing if you plan to spend time in the sun. Be sure to check if alcoholic beverages are prohibited near your chosen picnic destination before packing a bottle of wine or your favorite beer. Always include bottled water for extra hydration during your outdoor activities.

*For a little added twist, include fresh lemon slices, lime wedges, and peppermint sprigs to flavor your iced tea or water.

* Picnic food ideas for a romantic picnic could include finger foods, like whole strawberries, cheese chunks, and sliced French bread. Avoid recipes that call for broccoli, beans, garlic, or onions to reduce unpleasant odors during your romantic picnic. Include your sweetheart’s favorite foods and don’t forget to pack something sweet for dessert.

*For a picnic with kids, pack individual ingredients and allow kids to prepare their own picnic creations. Sandwich ingredients, mix-your-own fruit and veggie salads, individual cold pizzas, and decorated deserts are always a hit with kids.

Creating your own picnic food ideas allows you to incorporate your favorite foods into your picnic menu. Picnic food ideas should be fun, tasty, and easy to transport without spoiling.

Be sure to pack a few plastic bags to cart home the leftovers, and pack a few extra crackers to feed the ducks, birds, and squirrels that are may invite themselves to your picnic.

Coming up with ideas for bridal shower games is one of the major tasks of planning a bridal shower. If you are a bridesmaid looking for ideas for bridal shower games, these game ideas will help you make your loved one’s bridal shower a fun-filled success.

Ideas for Bridal Shower Games: Don’t Say It

This game begins as soon as the guests begin arriving. Each guest is given three decorated clothespins when they arrive. They are instructed to not say the words “wedding” or “bride”. In turn, each guest is to try to get the other guests to say these two forbidden words. When a guest is caught saying wedding or bride, they must give up a clothespin to the person who first calls them on slipping up. The guest with the most pins at the end of the shower wins a prize.

Ideas for Bridal Shower Games: Bridal Bingo

Guests are each given a blank Bingo card before the bride begins opening presents. Each card should have five columns and five rows, for a total of 25 blank squares. Each guest writes in his or her best guesses as to the gifts the bride is likely to receive at the shower. As the bride opens her gifts, guests mark off any that appear on their card. The first person to get five in a row yells out, “BINGO”, and wins a prize.

Ideas for Bridal Shower Games: Guess the Legs

This game is sure to bring a few laughs, but it requires cooperation from a good-natured groom. Before the wedding shower, recruit the groom and four or five other men to visit the shower at a given time. (The game only takes a few minutes of their time, unless they decide to stay for refreshments.)

Blindfold the bride and have the men enter the room with their pants rolled up to their ankles. The blindfolded bride must feel each set of legs to determine which ones belong to her beloved.
If she’s successful and can pick out her groom, reward her with a prize, if not, the prize goes home with the groom.

Ideas for Bridal Shower Games: What’s Inside

This game begins by passing out a page listing items that may be found in a woman’s purse. Each item is given a point value with the rarest items earning more points. Each woman rummages through her purse in search of items on the list.

The final question can be used as a tiebreaker, or just for fun. Ask the guests who believes they have the most unusual item in their purse. The bride votes for the most unusual item and awards an extra 10 points to the owner.

Ideas for bridal shower games are abundant, but not all games are appropriate for every bridal shower. Consider the guests who will be attending and avoid any games that may be considered offensive.

Company Party planners like us have seen all kinds of corporate events and parties.

Just as celebrating a holiday, birthday, anniversary, or hosting a family gathering is important to the health and growth of your family; it is equally as important to the well being of your company.
In today’s world it is hard to find quality employees, hard working staff members, and people who you can trust to make a commitment to your business in the manner which you know it requires. When you finally do find the people you need – it is in your best interest to make them feel appreciated.

Maintaining employee relations and encouraging quality extracurricular interaction among staff can produce bonds which will ultimately build your business. Taking the time to pull people aside and saying a heartfelt “Thank You for a Job Well done” has immeasurable effects on company moral, employee loyalty, and the longevity of your company.

Hosting a company event or celebration is a great way to nurture the relationships which keep your company going. Giving back to those who have given their time and commitment to the company encourages people to continue the commitments they have made. It is also a great way to find new people to continue a companies growth.

When your employees talk about the good things your company does for them- it often creates a desire in other people to work for your company!

The bottom line is that creating memories which your staff will remember for years to come will instill a sense of pride which will translate into a commitment to your company which can be attained no other way. Creating memories of a happy workplace creates discussion, interaction, and makes your company a desirable place to work which in turn brings you higher quality workers.